Water-motor.



N. A.,STAMM.

. WATER MOTOR; PPLIMTIQN rum In 1o, 1909.

Patented oct. 25, 1910.

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` N. A. STAMM.

WATER MOTOR.

APPLIOATIQN FILED un 10,4009.

Panama 000201010.

NORMAN A. STAMM, 0F GLENDORA, CALIFORNIA.

WATER-MOTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 10, 1909.

Patented Oct. 25, 1910.

Serial No. 495,188.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NORMAN A. STAMM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Glendora, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful Tater-Motor, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to arwater motor and one of the objects of theinvention is to provide a water motor which may be set in a stream andoperated by the current, and to provide means for moving the motor outof the current if desired.

The invention elnbodies a plurality of units which revolve around avertical axis, each unit consisting of a series of gates, and anotherobject is to hold the gates in position for receiving the force of thestream while moving through the working part of their cycle, and to letthe gates swing free and independent of each other so that they willfeather the water when moving through the idle part of their cycle.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for causing thegates to receive the force of the current to operate the motor, or toswing free in line ywith the current to stop the motor.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the currentmay be deflected so as to concentrate the force of the current at theworking portion of the motor and to provide a plurality of suchdetlecting means for the more perfect regulation of the flow of thestream through the motor and to provide for adjusting` each of saiddetlecting means independently of the other.

The gates of each unit in passing through the working part of theircycle receive the force of the stream being held by certain lugs and inpassing through the idle part of their cycle the gates swing freely awayfrom said lugs and lie parallel with the course of the stream. Theselugs may be moved out of position, so that the gates may swing freethroughout the entire cycle. These two positions of the lugs beingsecured by controlling devices, which controlling devices are in turncapable of being manually regulated, and a further object is to'providefor the manual regulation of such controlling devices without producingany friction between the manual regulation means and the controllingdevices after the regulation has been effected, so that when the lugsare moved into position to hold the gates against the water action thecontrolling devices which hold them in such position are notfrictionally engaged by the manually operated device which was employedto shift the controlling devices into a position where the latter wouldof themselves hold the lugs in operative position.

A further object is to provide a novel form of gate of great strengthand buoyancy.

Other objects and advantages will be brought out in the followingdescription.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of the completeinvention showing it in position in a stream. Fig. 2 is an enlargedvertical section of the motor on line v2-.r2 Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is anenlarged vertical section through a gate showing the device forvoperating the lugs which control the gate, the section being taken online xg-af Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a gate in detail,part of the gate being broken away to show the detail construction. Fig.5 is a perspective view of the complete motor.

1 designates posts forming supports or abutments for supporting themotor. The frame of the motor comprises upper and lower frame sections 2and 3 of similar construction, each frame section comprising horizontalparallel bars 4 and 5 which are secured at one end to horizontal bars 6,the horizontal bars 6 being connected at each end by vertical bars 7.The parallel bars 4 and 5 are connected at their opposite ends by shortbars 7 and by vertical bars 8. A pair of diagonal braces 9 and 10 extendbetween the bars 6 and 4.

11 designates the main shaft, the upper end of which is mounted in ajournal 12 on the bar 4 and the lower end being` mountedl in a stepbearing 13 on the lower bar 4. The upper end of the bearing block 13 isshouldered and a flanged sleeve 14 is slipped over the shaft and upperend of the journal 18 and serves to house a ball race 15 in the interiorof the bearing and prevent the entrance of water.

Secured to the shaft 11near its lower end is a sleeve 16 having a lowerdisk 17 and an upper disk 18, and bolted to the upper disk 18 is aplurality of horizontal bars 19, each bar 19 forming the lower bar( of aunit to be described, and being firmly supported by a brace 20 whichextends to the disk 17.

Near the upper end of the shaft 11 is a similar sleeve 1.6a having anupper disk 17'Ll and a lower disk 18, and secured to the disk 18'al is aplurality of horizontal bars 19, each bar 19a lying directly above andparallel with a lower bar 19. A series of vertical rods 20 extendingbetween each pair of bars 19 and 19a, each rod 2O forming a pintle for agate 21. Braces 19b extend from the outer ends of the bars 19a tointermediate points on the adjacent bars 19a. Each gate coinprises apair of vertical fiat bars 22 which are united by horizontal bars 23which form braces. Covering the rectangular frame work formed by thebars 22 and 23, is a sheet metal casing 24, which forms an airtight,buoyant compartment or gate 24. A three sided gate frame 25 formed ofchannel bars is so constructed that it is adapted to slidably receivethe compartment 24 so that when placed in position between thehorizontal bars 19, 19, the inner vertical bar 22 of each gate liesagainst the adjacent pintle rod 2O and a channel bar 26, V-shaped incross section, incloses the pintle rod 2O and is secured to the adjacentedges of the cover 24, thereby pivoting the gate on the pintle 20. Eachchannel bar 25 is slotted at 27 to receive the pintle 20 and permits theremoval of the gate from the pintle after the channel bar 2G has beenremoved. It is thus possible to remove the gate without disconnectingthe pintle 20, the gate being removable sidewise from the pintle afterbeing disconnected as described. rlhe gates while constructed of metalare indestructible and of great strength, and being hollow, are buoyantso that their weight is not thrown on the step bearing and friction atthat point is avoided largely. This relieves the horizontal bars 19 and19a of strain.

Extending along the edge of each bar 19 and 19a is a lug shaft 28, eachlug shaft 28 being journaled at intervals in blocks 29 which aie securedto the bars 19 and 19a. Each lug shaft 28 is rotable in its supportingblock 29, and rigidly secured to each lug shaft is a series of lugs 30which lugs are adapted to stand behind the gates 21 and paralleltherewith when the lug shafts are in one position as shown in full linesin Fig. 3, or the lugs may be folded forward fiat against the bais 19and 19a as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3 by rotating therespective lug shafts 28 through a quarter of a revolution, and when thelugs 30 are so folded forward the gates 21 escape the lugs 30 and arefree to swing on their respective pintles 20, stops 29 abutting thelugs.

The lug shafts 28 are operated by mechanism in such a manner that whilethe gates 21 are moving through the working portion of their cycle thelugs 30 stand behind such gates and cause the gates to receive thepressure of the stream and thus impart rotation to their supportingunits through the medium of lugs 30, while when the gates are movingthrough the idle part of their cycle, the lug shafts 28 are turned sothat the lugs 30 will be folded back and free from the gates so that thegates are free to swing naturally and independently of each other into aposition parallel with the course of the stream and thus not exert anyopposing pressure which would in the least negative the effective workwhich is being performed by the other gates which are moving through theworking part of their cycle.

The mechanism for controlling the lug shafts 28 whereby this result issecured coniprises a plurality of levers 31 fixed to the respectiveupper lug shafts 28 adjacent the disk 18a. A series of arms 32 aresecured to the inner ends of the lower lug shafts 28 and the arms 32 areconnected by rods 33 with the arms 31. Each arm 3l is connected to avertical arm 34, the latter having a pin 35 which projects through aslot 36 formed in an arm 37 of an individual weight 38, each arm 37being pivoted at 39 to the disk 17a. The weights 38 normally tend todepress the arms 34; Resting upon the inner ends of the arms 37 is thelower end of an intermediate weight 40, which near its upper end isprovided with a flange 4l which flange is adapted to be engaged by apair of hook shaped arms 42 depending from a pivoted frame 43 on which acontrolling weight 44 is slidably mounted. lVhen the controlling weight44 is shifted into the position shown in Fig. 2, the inner end of theframe 43 is tilted downwardly so that the arms 42 are out of engagementwith the flange 41, that is, the arms 42 are adapted to move slightlylower than the fiange 4l, so that when in such position the arm 42 doesnot touch the flange 41 and the intermediate weight 40 is allowed torotate freely. Then the weight 40 is lowered the ends of levers 37 aretilted and elevate the individual weights 38 and through the verticalarms 34, arms 31, rods 33, arms 32 and lug shafts 28 hold the respectivelugs '30 overlapping the respective gates 21 as indicated in Fig. 2, sothat while moving through the idle part of their cycle the gates 21 arefiee to swing away from the lugs 30 and feather the stream. As the gates21 approach the working part of their cycle, the gates swing backagainst the lugs 30 and the latter hold the gates so that they receivethe pressure from the water. In this manner the lugs 30 are held inposition by means of the weight 40 and intermediate connections. `Whenit is desired to stop the motor from operating, the weight 44 is shiftedto the left thereby tilting the frame 43 in the opposite direction,whereupon the arms 42 lift the weight 40 and the latter relieves thearms 37, thereby permitting the individual weights 38 to drop and pushdown the arms 34 and thereby rock the upper lug shafts 28, and the rods33 acting upon arms 32, rock the lower lug shafts 2S so that the lugs3() are folded forward thereby permitting all the gates of all of theunits to swing freely and permit the stream to flow directly through themotor without exerting any pressure against the face of the gates. Themotor then stops. The outer edge of each gate is provided with theV-shaped bar 26 to form a cut-water to relieve opposing ressure againstthe edge as much as possile. A drum 4:5 surrounds the lower part of theweight l0 and covers the individual weights 8S and adjacent parts asclearly shown in Fig. 2. The frame 2 of the motor is preferably hingedat 46 to permit the motor to be swung up out of the stream wh'en sodesired.

A deflector L7 is arranged 4near each side of the motor, each deiectorbeing journaled to a vertical shaft 4S mounted in brackets 49, the outeredge of each detlector 47 is secured by cables 50 which are wound onsheaves 51 mounted on a shaft 52. Thus by turning shaft 52 theassociated deflector may be moved into the position shown in full linesin Fig. 1 at an angle with the direction of the current so that thewater will be deflected and delivered at a tangent to the motor and thusstrike the gates in working position at nearly right angles, thusconcentrating the stream and applying itto the motor at the mostfavorable angle for giving the greatest amount of power. By unwindingthe cables 50 the detlectors may be allowed to swing into position shownin dotted lines, which position they will. naturally assume, and when inthis position the water will flow straight by thev deiiectors withoutbeing diverted against the motor. In order to hold the shafts 52 in anyposition in which they may be set a pawl 53 and ratchet 54 may beemployed.

To facilitate starting the motor, a hand lever 55 may be j ournaled onthe main shaft 11 and by means of a pawl 56 and ratchet 57 may be usedto impart rotation to the shaft 11 and thereby start the motor, theratchet 57 heilig adapted to run ahead of the pawl 56 as the motorgathers headway.

To clear the stream of driftwood or debris which might damage the motor,a grid 59 is provided having horizontal rods 60 fastened to end pieces61 which are bolted to the posts 1 on the upstream side of the motor.

A drum 62 is secured to the disks 17 and houses the rods 33.

lVhat I claim is:

l. In a water motor. 'L main shaft, a series of units connected with themain shaft, each unit comprising a series of pivoted gates capable ofcomplete rotation with respect to their pivots, a lug shaft radial ofthe main shaft extending along each unit, a series of lugs on each lugshaft adapted to hold the adjacent gates from swinging in one direction,and weight controlled means for operating said lug shafts.

2. In a water motor, a main shaft, a plurality of units connected to themain shaft. each unit comprising a series of pivoted gates, a lug shaftextending along each edge of each unit, a plurality of lugs on each luglshaft adapted to hold the gates from swinging in one direction andpermitting the gates to swing in the other direction, an arm on each lugshaft, a rod connecting said arms, an individual weight for each unithaving a connection with one of said arms, an intermediate weight forcontrolling said individual weight, and means for controlling theintermediate weight.

3. In a water motor, a vertical shaft, a plurality of units connected tothe shaft, each unit comprising a series of gates, a frame supportingeach series of gates, each frame comprising a pair of horizontal bars,vertical rods connecting said bars and forming pintles for said gates, alug shaft extending along eachbar and journaled thereto, lugs on eachlug shaft adapted to stand back of the respective gates or to be foldedforward to permit the gates to swing in either direction, and weightcontrolled means for turning said lug shafts.

1l. In a water motor, a vertical shaft, a pair of sleeves on said shaft,each sleeve having upper and lower disks, a series of units secured to adisk of each sleeve, each unit comprising a pair of parallel bars,vertical rods extendingbetween said bars and forming pintles, a gatehung on each pintle, each gate comprising vertical bars with horizontalbars connecting the same, a sheet metalv cover for said bars, channelbars forming caps for the top and bottom edges of the gate, and achannel bar secured to the inner edge of the gate and embracing theadjacent pintle rod, said top and bottom channel bars being notched toreceive said pintle bars, lug shafts extending along the horizontal barsof each unit, lugs on each lug shaft adapted to hold the gates frommovement in one direction or to permit the gates to swing in the otherdirection, and weight controlled means for turning said lug shafts.

5. In a water motor, a vertical shaft, a series of units connected totheshaft, each unit comprising a series of pivoted gates, lug shaftsextending along each unit, lugs on each lug shaft for controlling theposition of the gates, an arm on the inner end of each lug shaft, a rodconnecting said arms, an arm extending above the upper arm, a flangedsleeve on the main shaft, a series of individual weights pivoted on saidfianged sleeve and loosely engaging the last named vertical arms, anintermediate weight slidable on said main shaft, and resting against theinner ends of the arms of the individual weights, and means forcontrolling the elevation of said intermediate weight.

G. In a Water motor, a vertical shaft, a series of units connected tothe shaft, each unit comprising a series of pivoted gates, lug shaftsextending along each unit, lugs on each lug shaft for controlling theposition of the gates, an arm on the inner end of each lug shaft, a rodconnecting said arms, an arm extending above the upper arm, a flangedsleeve on the main shaft, a series of individual Weights pivoted on saidfianged sleeve and loosely engaging the last named vertical arms, anintermediate Weight slidalile on said main shaft and resting aga-instthe inner ends of the arms of the individual weights, a pivotedcontrolling frame, a control weight slidahle on the controlling frame, apair of arms depending from said frame and engaging a flange on theupper end of the intermediate weight.

7. In a water motor, a vertical shaft, a series of units connected tothe shaft., each unit comprising a series of pivoted gates, lug shaftsextending along each unit, lugs on each lug shaft for controlling theposition of the gates, an arm on the inner end of each lug shaft, a rodconnecting said arms, an arni extending above the upper arin, a flangedsleeve on the main shaft, a series of individual weights pivoted on saidflanged sleeve and loosely engaging the last named vertical arms, anintermediate Weight slidable on said main shaft and resting against theinner ends of the arms of the individual Weights, a pivoted controllingframe, a control Weight slidable on the controlling frame, a pair ofarms depending from said frame and engaging a fiange on the upper end ofthe intermediate Weight, and a drum surrounding said shaft secured tothe said units and inelosing the mechanism between the intermediateweight and gates.

8. In a Water motor, a vertical shaft, a series of units connected tothe shaft, each unit comprising a series of pivoted gates, lug shaftsextending along each unit, lugs on each lug shaft for controlling theposition of the gates, an arm on the inner end of each lug shaft, a rodconnecting said arms, an arm extending labove the upper arm, a flangedsleeve on the main shaft, a series of individual Weights pivoted on saidflanged sleeve and loosely engaging the last named vertical arms, anintermediate Weight slidable on said main shaft and resting against theinner ends of the arms of the individual Weights, a pivoted controllingframe, a control Weight slidable on the controlling frame, a pair ofarms depending from said frame and engaging a flange on the upper end ofthe intermediate Weight, a ratchet on said shaft, a hand lever siviveledon said shaft,

and a pavvl on said hand lever engagingY said ratchet.

9. In a Water motor, a vertical shaft, a series of units connected tothe shaft, each unit comprising a series of pivoted gates, lug shaftsextending along each unit, lugs on each lug shaft for controlling theposition of the gates, an arm on the inner end of eaeh lug shaft, a rodconnecting said arms, an arm extending above the upper arm, a flangedsleeve on the main shaft, a series of individual weights pivoted on saidflanged sleeve and loosely engaging the last named vertical arms, anintermediate VWeight slidahle on said main shaft and resting against theinner ends of the arms of the individual Weights, a pivoted controllingframe, a control Weight slidable on the controlling frame, a pair ofarms depending from said frame and engaging a i'iange on the -npper endof the intermediate weight, a step hearing at the bottoni of the mainshaft and said step bearing being shouldered, a hollow sleeve on thesaid shaft fitting the shouldered end of said step bearing, and a. hallrace Within said hollow sleeve.

lO. In a water motor, a main shaft, a series of units conneeted iviththe main shaft, each unit comprising a series of pivoted gates, a lugshaft extending along each unit, a series of lugs on each lug shaftadapted to hold the adjacent gates from swinging in one direction,blocks forming journals for said lug shafts and stops formed on saidblocks to hold said lugs rigidly haelt of said gates When the lug shaftis turned to operative position, and Weight controlled means foroperating said lug shafts.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles,California, this lst day of May 1909.

NORMAN A.. STAB/IM.

In presence of- G. T. HACKLEY, FRANK L. A. GRAHAM.

